Positive Affirmations & Positive Sayings

My past is only a benchmark for my present and future progression. Where I started does not dictate where I will end up. It is only a starting point, from which I launch into better things.

I am not defined by my past, but I do not allow myself to forget it either because it reminds me of how far I have come.

I compare myself only to me, gauging progress from where I began. I do not compare myself to anyone else. Everyone has his own history, his own personality, his own unique set of circumstances that shaped him and placed him where he is today.

I am not everyone. I am, simply, me.

I have my own history that has shaped me, and therefore my progress can only be effectively evaluated by looking at where I have come from.

I am not defined by how far I have yet to go, nor am I compared to the success of others. No one is better than anyone. We are merely, different.

Everyone has his own path to run. Comparing my journey to someone else's will lead only to arrogance or discouragement. The best thing I can do for myself is to keep my gaze on my own path, evaluating my progress only by how far I, myself, have come.

And I extend the same courtesy to others, allowing them the freedom to walk their own paths at their own pace, knowing that there is no universal measuring stick, that progress can only be gauged by how far one has come.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. How far have I come in my personal journey?
2. What lets me know that I have made progress?
3. Am I using anyone else's journey to try to evaluate my own progression?

I do not allow chaos to get the best of me. I am calm and in control of my emotions.

Disorder cannot steal my peace because my peace comes from above and not from my surroundings.

I do not lose my temper. Losing control in the midst of chaos only produces more chaos. When I feel myself getting anxious, I stop and give myself time to think before I act.

I believe that my actions are a representation of what is in my heart. Therefore, I fill my heart with positive things. My heart overflows with wisdom, joy, peace, love, and faith. When I react, these are the things that come out of me.

When a difficult situation arises, I know what to do because I am resourceful. I think outside the box and work toward solutions. Failure cannot deter me. Failures are necessary in life to prevent me from becoming complacent.

I am resilient under pressure. Staying motivated is the key to my success. My goals are clear and I make sure that all my actions bring me closer to my goals. I strive to live a life with no regrets.

Being responsible and preparing properly for situations helps me avoid chaos. When circumstances are beyond my control and I find myself in the midst of chaos, I do not drown in it. I use positive thoughts as my life-saver.

I keep things in perspective, reminding myself that this too shall pass. By keeping the big picture in mind I can overcome any storm.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. What do I do when I feel myself getting anxious?
2. What are the things that fill my heart?
3. How can I better prepare myself to avoid chaos?

The only person I can control is me. It's not my responsibility to ensure that my partner, children, siblings, co-workers, or neighbors make the right decisions.

Trying to control another person's actions is about as effective as staring at a silkworm and thinking that I can make it turn into a butterfly by wishing hard enough. It simply doesn't happen like that. The silkworm will only change when it's ready, and there is nothing I can do to rush that process.

Accepting this fact allows me to stop wasting my precious energy on situations that are outside of my control. I have only a limited amount of energy, and I should use it to improve the one person I can control: myself.

Stepping back from all attempts to control other people does not mean that I no longer care about what happens them. I do care! But their decisions are theirs alone, and I must allow them their choices, as I wish to be granted mine.

Respecting others' choices does not mean I have to be a victim when they choose poorly. The fact that I am in control of myself means that I have the freedom to remove myself from situations that are hurtful to me. I cannot change others, but I can change myself and the circumstances I am in, if and when I need to.

Caring for myself involves acknowledging that the only person who truly controls my life is me and that the only life I can truly control is my own.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. Who am I trying to control?
2. What steps do I need to take to let go of my attempts to control this person?
3. In what ways have I given up control of my own life?